Sue Roberts, the State Library of Victoria’s new Chief Executive Officer and State Librarian has taken up her position this week.

Ms Roberts comes to the role with 15 years’ experience in strategic library leadership in the UK and New Zealand. She relocated to Melbourne from Wellington, where she has been University Librarian at Victoria University since 2007, and served as Chair of the Council of New Zealand University Librarians and Director of the Library Consortium of New Zealand.

A published author and leading thinker on the changing role of libraries, Ms Roberts’s previous positions include Dean of Learning Services at Edge Hill University in the UK and the Director of SOLSTICE, a national centre for excellence in online learning.

John Cain, President of the Library Board of Victoria, said Sue Roberts is well known in the international library community as one of the dynamic breed of young library leaders who are transforming the industry to face the challenges of the 21st-century.

‘The State Library of Victoria has already positioned itself among the leading libraries in the world in tackling these challenges, and Sue’s appointment marks an exciting new phase in the Library’s ongoing transformation,’ he said.

Ms Roberts said she welcomed the challenge of leading such a vibrant and iconic institution.

‘The State Library of Victoria stands as one of the world’s great libraries. Its rich collections contain many touchstones of Australia’s history. It is amongst Victoria’s busiest cultural institutions – there can be no denying people’s hunger to use it in many different ways, both physically and online.

The Library landscape has changed radically in the past decade and continues to evolve at an amazing pace. Being a part of that change and leading this wonderful institution into the future is exciting and inspiring.’

The State Library of Victoria is the oldest public library in Australia and the most visited of all state libraries with more than 1.54 million visitors last year. More than 280,000 items from the Library’s extensive collection have been digitised and made available online, and popular travelling programs have opened up access to the Library’s collection by touring treasured items to regional and remote areas.

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Whether you are a fellow Lancastrian (Mancunian?)or not, welcome to marvellous Melbourne from a Manchester born writer who has lived here for more than 20 years.Hope you will be happy and fulfilled in your time with us.